Her music means everything to me! My favorite female entertainer of all-time is Janet Jackson. I cannot even put into words how much I love her and appreciate her artistry. I’ve followed her career since I can remember. I would learn every single song & all of her choreography, so I guess you can call me a die-hard. I love the entire Jackson family for their musical genius, but Janet holds a special place in my heart! This is probably the hardest time I’ve had selecting a song from an artist because I truly love all of Janet’s songs and I(ks difficult because she has a catalog that spans over 20 years. “Got Til It’s Gone” is one of my favorite singles that actually sampled “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell, which appeared on one of Janet’s biggest-selling albums, Velvet Rope, produced by the legendary Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The visuals are beautiful and the thought behind it represents the time of apartheid in South Africa. Also, Janet took home the Grammy in 1998 for Best Short Form Music Video for “Got Til It’s Gone.” Press play…
Throwback of the Day: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
22 SepThe last day of summer seems bittersweet when you have this playing…Summertime is an all-time favorite of mine & summer anthem by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith). The track is synonymous with cookouts, family reunions and gatherings in Philly during this time of year. Peaking at # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the track became the West Philly duo’s biggest hit to date and also earned Jazz & Will their second Grammy. Summertime is simply a classic! I just had to hear this one more time before my favorite season Autumn officially comes! Press play…
Throwback of the Day: Zero7
10 SepI discovered the music of Zero7 many years ago and it’s something very heart-warming about their music to me. “Destiny” is one of my most favorite songs from the band, taken from the Simple Things LP and on this particular song, Australian songwriter Sia Furler sings lead & I just love her voice! Zero7′s music is often described as downtempo/electronica, however for this feature I wanted to post an acoustic version that is simply amazing. This song never gets old, even 11 years later. Press play!
Throwback of the Day: Jodeci
8 SepSo I just started humming this song out of the blue & could not stop, therefore I knew this had to be a “throwback.” I could never choose a favorite Jodeci song, but from the first piano note until the last, it is perfection to me. “Cry For You” is one of the band’s best songs in my opinion and it’s classic 90s. K-Ci, JoJo, Devante and Mr. Dalvin are the members of one of the baddest guy groups ever, Jodeci! The passion, the soulfulness, the harmonies all make up the quartet’s signature sound…a sound that I believe has been missing from recent mainstream music. Off of their 1993 double-platinum sophomore album, Diary of a Mad Band via Uptown Records under the guidance of music executive Andre Harrell. The single reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B chart and #15 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It’s hard to believe this was almost 20 years ago! I love the scenery of the desert…it’s breathtaking & combat boots never looked so good. Every time they sing, “Baby, I’m begging, baby I’m begging, begging baby”…I must start it all over again. Press play!
Throwback of the Day: Michael Jackson
25 AugThose who really know me, already know how immensely touched I was by the life of the greatest entertainer that graced the earth thus far, Michael Jackson. Although he was known worldwide to his fans as the “King of Pop,” to me, Michael was much more than that. He was also a soul artist because he was so transparent in his performances and recordings that you could see the soul of him and the type of individual he REALLY was. Jackson was in show business for 45 years of his 50 year life here on earth. What I loved most about Mike is that he was a conscious artist. He knew his music would touch the listener, therefore, he sang about topics of racial injustice, police brutality, nature and more. “Earth Song” is one of my FAVORITE songs by Mike! The performance below is one of the most passionate displays of his soul. Michael was the epitome of a perfectionist and his impact on the world of music was simply immeasurable. I never got a chance to post MJ’s memoriam, so I would really like ALL of my METY viewers to help me celebrate the life of Michael Jackson today by watching one of his best vocal performances below. Long live the King of Pop! May he rest well…
Throwback of the Day: New Radicals
8 AugThis is forever my jam! “You Get What You Give” was the first single from 90s band New Radicals off of their debut album, Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too. I loved this song! It’s just one of those infectious tracks you can find yourself humming over & over throughout the day because you can’t get the song out of your head. While the track caused some controversy from a portion of the lyrics, “You Get What You Give” has been listed on many lists as one of the greatest songs ever. New Radicals may be know as a one-hit wonder band, however lead vocalist Gregg Alexander went on to become a songwriter for several other artists. One could never listen to this song just once! Press play!
Throwback of the Day: Amel Larrieux
6 AugWhen someone asks what my favorite genre of music is I usually reply by telling them that I love any kind of music as long as it contains spirit & this is an artist who is FULL of spirit. Amel Larrieux is one of the most influential artists in my world of music. I adore her songwriting skills and vocal ability and I have been a fan of hers since her very first Groove Theory single “Tell Me.” She’s an artist that I go to for inspiration when I’m creating my own music and whenever I just want to hear songs with substance and meaningful lyrics. “No One Else” was featured on her Morning album. Also, many people were introduced to the song when it featured on Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” film. It’s one of my most favorite songs that she wrote. The lyrics are so beautiful and it’s the kind of song that one who’s in love can truly appreciate and if you’re not in love, it makes you want to find it. I cannot hardly wait for her upcoming LP “Ice Cream Every Day” to drop, therefore I’ve been waiting patiently and running all of her previous albums during this drought, however I know the release will be well worth the wait! With Amel’s track record, I can feel that it will be something special. Press play…
Throwback of the Day: Santana & Michelle Branch
26 JulHere’s a song that always brightened up my day & made me happy no matter what! The incomparable Carlos Santana had several collaborations on his Grammy-winning album, Shaman, ranging from Dido to Musiq Soulchild to Macy Gray to Placido Domingo, but it was something about the chemistry between Santana and Michelle Branch on the track “The Game of Love” that just warmed my heart! The song is still infectious to date and every time I listen, I must hit the repeat button! Press play…
Throwback of the Day: Jazzyfatnastees
19 JulOne of the best things about music is that you can associate a time, place, event or emotion with a particular song. I’ll never forget the first time I heard the voices of Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez, better known as, Jazzyfatnastees. I was literally in the Barnes & Noble bookstore off of Walnut Street in Philly and I could not seem to focus on what I needed to because I kept saying to myself, “who is that singing ?” So, I could not help myself and I started asking around and finally, someone knew of the group playing in the background. The song that captivated my mind initially was “Breakthrough,” a track from the group’s debut album The Once and Future and I thought it was unlike anything I’ve ever heard, therefore I had the urge to explore their music & a friend allowed me to borrow their cd (which I tried to confiscate) and I’ve been hooked ever since! “Something in the Way” is an incredible track that makes me so happy! The melody is very soulful and I love the duo’s harmonies and delivery. My favorite section of the song happens to be the breakdown toward the end. I LOVE the way the tempo decreases and then, the vocals build & build into this magnificent crescendo! Simply music to my ears! It has been 10 years since the Jazzyfatnastees released their last studio album, The Tortoise and the Hare and I just received word that they are almost finished their upcoming project with the majority of songs completed!!! Mercedes recently released a statement confirming that the duo will drop a new LP this year, so I’m ecstatic! Press play!
Throwback of the Day: Stevie Wonder
11 JulLegend Stevie Wonder is a musical genius that touched my life immensely with his artistry. His musicianship is God-given because of the way he’s able to touch his audience beyond his disability. To me, his compositions are much like poetry and when his voice is applied, it’s magical. When I first started to dive into Stevie’s catalog, it was as if I had an epiphany, I thought to myself, sooo this is what it’s all about! Stevie taught me to create lyrics that are meaningful when I write and not to necessarily focus on trends or what’s hot at the moment, but what my heart says. “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)” is one of my MOST favorite songs he’s ever composed. I love everything about it with the key changes, lyrics, guitar chord progressions, soulful vocals and of course, the unscripted adlibs. Wonder’s music is very spiritual to me, being that one can feel his spirit through song…it’s so uplifting & overall, gives off an amazing vibe. His works are masterpieces to me and I believe they transcend time! Press play…
Throwback of the Day: Brandy
19 JunThis song has to be one of my most favorite remixes ever…”I Wanna Be Down (Remix)” is a classic to me, pure 90s music, which I love. The remix features some of my favorite female rappers MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo. The visuals were directed by Hype Williams and were significant because there were few of its kind that were shot partially black-and-white and partially in color in one video. It’s hard to believe Brandy was only 15 years old when this dropped. When I listen back to some of her earlier music, I hear such intricate harmonies and melodies that were past her time. ”I Wanna Be Down (Remix)” reached # 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B charts. Press play!
Throwback of the Day: Brenda Russell
21 MayThis is another of my favorite songs…”Piano in the Dark” is an old school track by Brenda Russell that brings back many memories. The song was originally released in 1988 off of her fourth studio album, but revisited later by a cover from another great singer, Oleta Adams. Russell has written songs for artists such as: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Joni Mitchell, Donna Summer, and Sting. The song reached #6 on the US Billboard Pop chart. I love the lyrics, her voice and delivery…Press play!
